Ally McCoist and Gordon Brown amongst Scots on King's Birthday Honours list

They are part of a list of 65 people recognised in this year's honours

Ally McCoist and Gordon Brown are among those being recognised in this year's honours
Author: Molly TulettPublished 14th Jun 2024

Scottish football legend Ally McCoist is on the list of Scots being recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours.

He is one of the 65 people being honoured for their contributions to the arts, science, medicine or government over a long period of time.

Some of those joining him this year will include former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Professor Sir Niall Ferguson, and golfer Stephen Gallacher.

Mr Brown is to become a Companion of Honour for public and charitable services in the UK and abroad.

The former Prime Minister said he felt “slightly embarrassed” at the recognition, adding: “the opportunity to serve is an honour in itself and my preference has always been to recognise all those brilliant, unsung, local heroes who quietly and selflessly give their time to contribute to the vitality of our communities.

"Slightly embarrassed"

"I want to thank those who put my name forward and thank too my family and all who have worked with me during the last 50 years in public life, to whom I owe everything."

Professor Sir Ferguson, who first came to the attention of many in the UK with the hit 2003 Channel 4 series Empire: How Britain Made The Modern World, and a best-selling book of the same name, will receive a knighthood.

The Glasgow-born academic, who has written 16 books said: "When an individual is honoured by the King, implicitly his formative influences are the real recipients of the honour.

"Anything I have achieved is in truth the achievement of my grandparents; my parents, Molly and Campbell; my school, the Glasgow Academy; my college, Magdalen, Oxford; and all the family members, teachers, mentors and friends who encouraged and supported me."

"His formative influences are the real recipients"

Golfer Stephen Gallacher becomes an MBE for services to golf while former Rangers and Scotland player and now pundit McCoist is made an OBE for services to association football and broadcasting.

Others recognised include Jasmin Paris, an ultra-marathon runner from Gorebridge, Midlothian, who becomes an MBE for services to fell running.In March, she became the first woman ever to finish the Barkley Marathons 100-mile race, completing one of the most challenging ultra marathons in the world with 99 seconds to spare in the 60-hour cut-off.

Alongside them will be Robert Forman, former chairman of the Scottish Conservatives, who becomes a CBE for political service, describing it as a “great privilege”.

Satirist Armando Iannucci will become a CBE for services to film and television, while chairwoman of the National Theatre of Scotland, Jane Spiers will be made an OBE for services to culture.

"I'm still pinching myself"

She said: "I'm still pinching myself. I feel so fortunate to have spent a lifetime working in the arts and now to be given an honour for doing something I love.

"I couldn't accept it without acknowledging all the people along the way, back and front of house, who've played a part in my life, encouraged me, believed in me, given me chances."

A volunteer who helped restore the world's last seagoing paddle steamer the PS Waverley has also been honoured.

John Beveridge, 71, has been made an MBE for services to paddle steamer preservation and charity.

"Flabbergasted"

He said: "The honour is for work I did on Maid of the Loch, which was a wreck and sinking in the 1990s. I helped save the Waverley back in 1974 when she was given to the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society for £1.

"The Waverley is more than 70 years old, it's a great advert for Scotland. It's been 25 years I've been involved in Maid of the Loch and volunteers are still helping to restore it. The aim is that she will sail again on Loch Lomond, hopefully one of these days."

Mrs Beaton-Hawryluk, whose Ukrainian father was forced to settle in Scotland following the Second World War, has raised £5.5 million since the invasion began in 2022.

Receiving an honour for services to chess in Scotland, teacher Gerald Lobely, 79, from Kemnay Aberdeenshire said he was "flabbergasted" to learn he has been honoured by the King.

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